Local opposition to the gold mining project emerged
almost immediately in the year 2000 when the project
was announced by Canadian company Gabriel Resources.
Resistance to the plan has since spread across Romania.
Over 10 years of resistance, Alburnus Maior, through the
Rosia Montana Campaign has successfully mobilized thousands
of people and has so far kept the project from being carried out.
International Reclaim the Fields camp joins Rosia Montana against the new
Romanian expropriation law
Rosia Montana, Romania
24 September 2011
Today, 24 September at 15:00 o’clock, the international participants of
the Reclaim the Fields camp [1], together with the local association
Alburnus Maior [2], from Rosia Montana, Romania, held a lively street
demonstration in the village’s Old Square. Local and international people
are opposing plans to open Europe’s largest open cast gold mine and a
proposed new law on expropriation currently being discussed in the
Romanian parliament. The law would enable private mining companies,
instead of the Romanian state and judicial system, to carry out forced
expropriation of residents, in a clear violation of human rights.
The samba band headed a procession of several hundred people through the
village, followed by live music, a seed exchange and speeches outlining
experiences from similar struggles all over the world.
The gold mine proposed by the Rosia Montana Gold Corporation [3] would
destroy the village of Rosia Montana and introduce controversial cyanide
leaching technology, threatening rivers in Romania and beyond in case of
an accident. Local opposition to the gold mining project emerged almost
immediately in the year 2000 when the project was announced by Canadian
company Gabriel Resources. Resistance to the plan has since spread across
Romania. Over 10 years of resistance, Alburnus Maior, through the Rosia
Montana Campaign has successfully mobilized thousands of people and has so
far kept the project from being carried out.
“It was a touching day for me and Rosia Montana community because from 22
countries came to support us and together we created an unique event in
Romania. We are an international family from Croatia to Canada and from
Singapore to Brazil and together we are fighting to stop destruction and
capitalism. Today in Rosia Montana people with similar stories shared
their strength. We are stronger now and we will win”, declared Eugen
David, the president of Alburnus Maior.
The participants of the Reclaim The Fields camp are strongly committed to
support the local struggle of Rosia Montana’s inhabitants and promise to
undertake further actions in the near future.
CONTACTS:
Eugen David – president Alburnus Maior (Romanian) +40 740 280 309
Ramona Duminicioiu – member of the Save Rosia Montana Campaign (Romanian,
English, French) +40 746 337 022
Phone/Fax: +40 264 599 204 / E-mail: alburnusmaior [at] ngo [dot] ro /
camp2011 [at] reclaimthefields [dot] org
PICTURES:
http://linksunten.indymedia.org/node/47503
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
[1] The Reclaim the Fields movement (www.reclaimthefields.org) brings
together food growers and farmers around Europe that are connecting local
practical action with global political struggles. Reclaim the Fields
stands against corporate interests that abuse local communities, cultural
values and the environment.
Between 21-30 of September, 2011, several hundred activists from all over
Europe and Romania are participating in an unprecedented solidarity camp
in Rosia Montana – Romania. The event is organized by Reclaim the Fields
together with the Alburnus Maior Association (www.rosiamontana.org ), with
strong support from the Romanian peasant association Eco Ruralis
(www.ecoruralis.ro) and numerous organizations and individuals from across
geographical Europe.
[2] The Alburnus Maior association represents the local opposition from
Rosia Montana against the largest gold mine proposal in Europe which
entails the destruction of Rosia Montana and a large area of the Apuseni
Mountains in Romania. www.rosiamontana.org
[3] Rosia Montana Gold Corporation is 19.31 percent owned by the Romanian
state with the remaining shareholders including Gabriel Resources, Newmont
and Barrick Gold.
